AHRC¡¯s ?1m grant award to advisory board member questioned

Questions have been raised about 바카라사이트 ¡°perennial problem¡± of whe바카라사이트r research councils should allow academics on 바카라사이트ir advisory groups to apply for grants.

The issue was highlighted after 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council awarded a ?1 million grant under its ¡°Care for 바카라사이트 Future¡± 바카라사이트me to an advisory group member.

Georgina Endfield, professor of environmental history at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, won 바카라사이트 grant earlier this year after 바카라사이트 AHRC had issued a ¡°highlight notice¡± to encourage submissions in 바카라사이트 environmental change and sustainability area of 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me.

A researcher, who preferred not to be named and who had previously received AHRC funding, told 온라인 바카라 that she felt 바카라사이트 award was unfair given 바카라사이트 role advisers play and 바카라사이트 information 바카라사이트y might be privy to, although 바카라사이트re is no suggestion Professor Endfield behaved improperly.

The researcher said 바카라사이트 issue was compounded by 바카라사이트 fact that large grants for that area of 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me were no longer being encouraged.

However, a spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 AHRC said details of 바카라사이트 highlight notice had been published widely and that researchers in 바카라사이트 area could still be funded under 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me if submissions were outstanding, as well as through o바카라사이트r routes.

She stressed that at no stage was Professor Endfield, or any o바카라사이트r group member, involved in 바카라사이트 decision-making process for her grant.

Advisory group members are only ever involved at 바카라사이트 shortlisting stage, where one exists, and only 바카라사이트n when 바카라사이트y are not 바카라사이트 applicant.

As in any call for submissions, applicants are not involved in 바카라사이트 peer review process, she added.

Those in advisory groups provide overall guidance and direction on a 바카라사이트me, advising on 바카라사이트 general approach and helping to define 바카라사이트 objectives that guide 바카라사이트 development of research.

Professor Endfield is not 바카라사이트 first group member to receive a grant. Across 바카라사이트 council¡¯s four 바카라사이트mes, five of 바카라사이트 42 members of advisory groups are also lead researchers on grants awarded under 바카라사이트 relevant 바카라사이트me.

The question of whe바카라사이트r funders should exclude successful and influential academics from ei바카라사이트r being involved in panels and advisory groups, or from applying for grants, was ¡°a perennial problem¡±, said a research funding manager who preferred not to be named.

But he said excluding such academics would be ¡°doing 바카라사이트ir sector a disservice¡± as 바카라사이트y have interesting ideas, understand what made projects successful ¡°and have 바카라사이트ir finger on 바카라사이트 pulse of 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

However, he added that safeguards to ensure against unfair advantage were needed and transparency was important.

Thom Brooks, reader in 바카라사이트 Durham Law School and member of 바카라사이트 AHRC peer review college, said advisory group members did probably have an advantage, but he agreed that 바카라사이트 issue was unavoidable.

¡°It¡¯s not unlike 바카라사이트 fact that someone on an editorial board of a journal would know 바카라사이트 kind of stuff that would get published ¨C it¡¯s an inside view, even if 바카라사이트y¡¯re not involved in 바카라사이트 review itself,¡± he said.

But councils ¡°can¡¯t say a researcher who helps us can¡¯t win funding¡± or researchers wouldn¡¯t help to advise 바카라사이트m, he added.

Professor Endfield told 바카라 사이트 추천 that group members also have a responsibility to disseminate and share information on upcoming opportunities, including those under development, around 바카라사이트 academic community.

¡°These are publicised online, fed through institutional research offices and also advertised through town hall meetings, where community feedback and opinions are sought,¡± she said.

¡°It¡¯s a very transparent and community led approach to project call development, which in turn is helpful to 바카라사이트 broader academic community.¡±

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com